Method and apparatus for automated information retrieval and component ordering
View Patent ↗A system and method for determining information for system components includes a database, an interchanger subsystem, and a product selection subsystem. The database includes information concerning components. An interchanger subsystem receives product parameters from a selected one of the plurality of users. The product parameters specify features of a component. The interchanger subsystem determines a list of interchangeable substitute components from the information in the database. The product selection subsystem receives component information from a selected one of the plurality of users and determines a range of product offerings from the information in the database.
1. A system for providing a comparison of parts to facilitate part selection, comprising in combination:
a processor;
data storage; and
instructions stored in the data storage executable by the processor, in response to a user providing information regarding a first part, to:
display a first list of features of the first part;
select at least one substitute part that has similar features as the first part;
display a corresponding list of features for the substitute part selected;
compare the first list and the corresponding list; and
provide an indication to call attention to differences between a listed feature of the first part and a corresponding listed feature for the substitute part selected to allow for comparing of the first and substitute parts.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to order the substitute part selected.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to display a drawing.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the first part is selected from the group consisting of part number, part type, and part parameter.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to calculate parameters for the substitute part selected.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to rank the substitute parts if more than one substitute part is selected.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions rank the substitute parts based on how close the substitute part matches the first part or cost.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to classify the at least one substitute part as a primary exchange product, an alternative exchange product, or an enhanced solution product.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one substitute part is classified as an enhanced solution product if the at least one substitute part has more features than the first part.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first part is a power transmission component.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first part is a drive, gearing, bearing, or coupling.
12. A system for providing a comparison of parts to facilitate part selection, comprising in combination:
a processor;
data storage; and
instructions stored in the data storage executable by the processor, in response to a user providing information regarding a first part, to:
display a first list of dimensions of the first part;
select at least one substitute part that has similar dimensions as the first part;
display a corresponding list of dimensions of the substitute part selected;
compare the first list and the corresponding list; and
provide an indication to call attention to differences between a listed dimension of the first part and a corresponding listed dimension for the substitute part selected to allow for comparing of the first and substitute parts.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to order the substitute part selected.
14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to display a drawing.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the information regarding the first part is selected from the group consisting of part number, part type, and part parameter.
16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to calculate parameters for the substitute part selected.
17. The system of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to rank the substitute parts if more than one substitute part is selected.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions rank the substitute parts based on how close the substitute part matches the first part or cost.
19. The system of claim 12 , further comprising instructions to classify the at least one substitute part as a primary exchange product, an alternative exchange product, or an enhanced solution product.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one substitute part is classified as an enhanced solution product if the at least one substitute part has more features than the first part.
21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first part is a power transmission component.
22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first part is a drive, gearing, bearing, or coupling.
23. A method for providing a comparison of parts to facilitate part selection, comprising in combination:
displaying a first list of features of a first part;
selecting at least one substitute part that has similar features as the first part;
displaying a corresponding list of features for the substitute part selected;
comparing the first list and the corresponding list; and
providing an indication to call attention to differences between a listed feature of the first part and a corresponding listed feature for the substitute part selected to allow for comparing of the first and substitute parts.
24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising ordering the substitute part selected.
25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising displaying a drawing.
26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising calculating parameters for the substitute part selected.
27. The method of claim 23 , further comprising ranking the substitute parts if more than one substitute part is selected.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein ranking the substitute parts is based on how close the substitute part matches the first part or cost.
29. The method of claim 23 , further comprising classifying the at least one substitute part as a primary exchange product, an alternative exchange product, or an enhanced solution product.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the at least one substitute part is classified as an enhanced solution product if the at least one substitute part has more features than the first part.
31. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first part is a power transmission component.
32. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first part is a drive, gearing, bearing, or coupling.
33. A method for providing a comparison of parts to facilitate part selection, comprising in combination:
displaying a first list of dimensions of a first part;
selecting at least one substitute part that has similar dimensions as the first part;
displaying a corresponding list of dimensions for the substitute part selected;
comparing the first list and the corresponding list; and
providing an indication to call attention to differences between a listed dimension of the first part and a corresponding listed dimension for the substitute part selected to allow for comparing of the first and substitute parts.
34. The method of claim 33 , further comprising ordering the substitute part selected.
35. The method of claim 33 , further comprising displaying a drawing.
36. The method of claim 33 , further comprising calculating parameters for the substitute part selected.
37. The method of claim 33 , further comprising ranking the substitute parts if more than one substitute part is selected.
38. The method of claim 37 , wherein the ranking of the substitute parts is based on how close the substitute part matches the first part or cost.
39. The method of claim 33 , further comprising classifying the at least one substitute part as a primary exchange product, an alternative exchange product, or an enhanced solution product.
40. The method of claim 39 , wherein the at least one substitute part is classified as an enhanced solution product if the at least one substitute part has more features than the first part.
41. The method of claim 33 , wherein the first part is a power transmission component.
42. The method of claim 33 , wherein the first part is a drive, gearing, bearing, or coupling.